Vampire History

When people think of old vampires many seem to think of Count Dracula from Bram Stoker's 1897 Novel. Even though this novel is fictitious Dracula's character was said to have been based on 'Vlad Tepes Dracul' (Vlad the Impaler) (1431-76)

Vampire folklore has existed for centuries, it has been traced back to Mesopotamians (iraq), Hebrews, Ancient Greeks and Romans. It has been said that they had tales of demonic entiteles and blood drinking spirits which are considered precursors to modern vampires.

Oxford's dictionary of a vampire is "a corpse supposed, in European folklore, to leave its grave at night to drink the blood of the living by biting their necks with long pointed canine teeth. Although this may have been the case for vampire stories a while back, the idea of vampires has changed since they entered Hollywood. "Many scholars argue the word “vampire” is either from the Hungarian vampir or from the Turkish upior, upper, upyr meaning “witch."

The Lost Boys' (1987) according to their tagline "Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die" which is a bit different from arising from a grave'
Also the characters in 'Twilight' (2008) can be shown in the sunlight as well as sparkling (unlike the common assumption)

There are many different myths about vampires and how they are portrayed around the world.
For example the swedish film 'Let the right one in' (2008)'s vampire character Eli is portrayed differently to the vampire's in 'Twilight' (2008). This may be for many reasons for example they have different audiences, 'Let the Right One In' (2008) will appeal to people of Swedish relation as they will possibly connect with the main character (Oskar) better due to the mise en scene (location). From my knowledge it would seem that 'Twilight' (2008) appeals to a wide range of people particularly teenage females because of the romance aspect of the narrative as well as the actors portraying these characters.

Twilight (2008)

Focusing mainly on Robert Pattinson's character Edward, I shall consider the similarities and differences between his character and the other vampire characters from my focus films (Eli from 'Let the Right One In' (2008), Nosferatu (1922) and The Lost Boys - 1987), how the other human characters act around them and how and why they have changed or developed over time.

The film Twilight (2008) (directed by Catherine Hardwicke) is a love story between the protagonist Bella and the handsome Edward Cullen. Twilight introduces a new era of vampires who could be classed as 'romantic vegetarians' (as they don't bite people like others have done in the past.) Even though both Twilight (2008) and 'Let the Right One In' (2008) were produced in the same year as well as both being adapted from novels, the have a very different view of what a vampire is like. The vampire characters are very different, Eli (Let the right one in) relies on blood and has the appearance of a 12 year old girl, Edward Cullen (Twilight) is supposedly a 17 year old boy and lives with a clan of other vampires who he considers to be his family.

The first scene in which we see Edward and his 'family' is in the cafeteria, each member of the Cullen family is introduced to protagonist Bella by her new found friend Jessica. The Cullens are able to conform with the rules of society (children in high school) without much suspicion. They seem to keep to themselves at school but manage to live in society (unlike the character Count Orlok in Nosferatu (1922) as he travels on a ship and murders many people provoking suspicion.)

The mise en scene of the film such as 'make up' convey a new era for the vampire, for example when Bella and Edward first speak she notices his eye colour changes from black to light brown, before he has been on a 'trip' with his family (which is inferred as a hunt for food). His characteristics also include the power of speed, cold hands, pale skintone (link with Count Orlok from Nosferatu) and strange reaction to sunlight - he sparkles (which is unlike a vampire character in 'Let the right one in' who bursts into flames).

(Scene where a vampire bursts into flames - 'Let the right one in' (2008)

The era of the sympathetic modern vampire has begun as in the 80s vampires were portrayed as rebels as part of the youth culture (The Lost Boys 1987), now in Hollywood vampires are portrayed as glamorous and good looking rather than evil blood suckers.

(Twilight cast & Eli from 'Let the right one in')

Author Milly Williamson in her book 'The Lure of the vampire' states that 'we are told to be wary of vampires, some critics remind is that vampires can infect us with their otherness, beguile us with their depraved intimacy and exhaust us with their embraces'. This quote supports the view in the David Cox's article that feminism isn't shown in Twilight (2008), as the main character Bella becomes dependent on Edward. Twilight has become so well established in today's society that senators are discussing the characters in supreme court.

'Let the right one in' (2008)

From listening to the overview commentary on the DVD of this film, I found that Swedish novelist John Ajvide Linqvist combined his childhood memories of Swedish Suburbia and fictitious narrative with the help of director Tomas Alfredson, to adapt the novel that was 'Let the right one in' to the big screen. The title apparently refers to vampire folklore in which a vampire cannot enter a house without being invited.

The narrative is based around the 12 year old protagonist 'Oskar' and his life in Stokholm's suburbs in the 1980s. As the narrative develops Oskar develops a relationship with a centuries old vampire Eli, who has the appearance of a 12 year old girl.

Oskar's characteristics in the beginning of the narrative show him as weak (for example he is constantly bullied at school) and before he meets Eli, his life is portrayed as quite dull. In a scene near the end Eli proves that she is more powerful than she appears, when she basically slaughters Oskar's bullies.

Unlike other vampire themed films such as 'The Lost Boys' (1987), the main theme of text is romance with a subplot of vampires. The film focuses on how the relationship between Eli and Oskar develops as well as the end of Eli's relaionship with Hakan (portrayed as her minder/blood finder).

Eli as a vampire is portrayed with innocence due to her appearance but she seems to have power over people shown by her loyal accomplice 'Hakan'. Hakan's character is portrayed to the public as her minder/father, little do they know that he is her blood collector. There is also is a link to 'Twilight' (2008) as the narrative has a romantic subplot (between Eli and Oskar).

As 'Let the right one in' (2008) could be classed as a hybrid as it spans across such genres as Fantasy, Horror and Romance.

Director of 'Cloverfield' 'Matt Reeves' is currently doing a re-make of 'Let the right one in' named 'Let me In' which is planned for release later this year (November). It stars Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass 2010) as the adolescent vampire. I hope to see it, even though it isn't meant to be as good as the original.

The script from 'The Lost Boys' has been adapted to a book, so that fans are able to read about scenes which were cut from the original film. source.

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